Hunting at High Altitudes 



ranch of Oscar Olinger on Belt Creek, about thirty 

 miles to the south of Fort Benton. Here I re- 

 mained until February 7, 1877. Deer were abund- 

 ant in the foothills of the Highwood Mountains 

 and Belt Creek valley. The weather was bracing 

 and splendid. For most of the time it was a com- 

 fort and pleasure to be all day out of doors, espe- 

 cially when one had an object in view the finding 

 of meat for eight healthy souls and two dogs. With 1 

 this feeling and with my love for hunting, it may 

 be understood that these sixty-six days were greatly 

 enjoyed. During thirty-seven days of this time the 

 temperature in the middle of the day was so mild 

 that the snow melted, and sometimes this melting 

 continued through the night. On only two days 

 was there rain. The temperature was above zero 

 for forty-five days, and at least fifty days were 

 sunshiny. The minimum temperatures for Janu- 

 ary were 16 degrees below zero on the 23d, and 

 26 degrees below zero on the 24th. In February 

 the minimum temperature was 15 degrees below 

 zero on the i8th. 



The waters of Belt Creek were open over the 

 rapids most of the winter, and on the 5th of 

 February, Donelly and I went fishing near the 

 ranch, and after fishing two hours on this warm 

 day he had caught twenty-four mountain trout and 



40 



